From Blackland Prairie Raptor Center
Springtime means people are using fertilizers on lawns and flower beds. Fertilizers, whether synthetic or organic, contain many chemicals that can be harmful. Please be mindful of fertilizers and the damage it can do to skin. If you use fertilizers, please water the fertilizer into the ground. This method creates a beautiful and safe yard.
Springtime also means baby birds and fledglings often spend a few days walking and standing on the ground. If a bird stands on fertilizer it burns the bird's feet and hocks, often resulting in sores so severe that the birds are no longer able to walk. Birds with the worst burns are absolutely devastating as these can burn down to the bone.
We don't like to take young birds away from their parents, but fertilizer-burned feet need medical attention. This Eastern Screech Owl came to our raptor clinic with burns on its feet. Our clinic staff cleaned the wounds and applied topical medication. Then the feet are wrapped to help the wounds heal and will be rechecked and rewrapped over several days. The owl will wear medicated booties until these burns heal.
Understandably! Who can't feel for the victims? But it is important and at that point it means that potential abuse has been discovered and steps are taken to stop it and help.
It's a necessary job. Thankfully I don't think she's seen too many cases that were actually abuse. It was one of the main reasons she hated when she had to intern for a few weeks at a city hospital. There were just many more cases and between that and the long commute, she really didn't have a great time.
The ones that kinda baffle me are the people in jail that insert foreign objects into random places to, I'm guessing, just want a change of scenery and maybe see some nurses? I dunno, the things the do don't seem worth it to me, but I guess I still have my freedom of movement privileges... 🤔
I fear that's also just plain human stupidity in a lot of cases. You don't have to look to inmates to find cases of "just why?!" A few months back a French man had his 5 minutes of media fame because of his decision to insert an 8-inch WWI artillery shell - yes, exactly there.
Owwy! 😯
They might not be willing to admit they were assaulted.
That's true, I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but the ones she's dealt with, she's never implied they had any sign of actual injury and they always seemed in good spirits otherwise.